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Frequently Asked Questions Use of Herbicides
Why does Hydro-Québec eliminate the vegetation that grows in power line rights-of-way? We don't try to eliminate all the vegetation, just whatever could interfere with the safe operation of the power system, namely, trees. Low plants such as small shrubs, blueberries and grasses are left alone. There are three main reasons why we control vegetation along power line rights-of-way: to keep the conductors clear (tree branches must not touch them), to allow crews quick access to the lines (for inspections and repairs when outages occur) and to prevent damage from fires.  The trees Hydro-Québec wants to treat are small. Why don't you wait until they're bigger? It's important to intervene when the trees are small. If an herbicide is applied, it's easier to completely cover all the leaves on the tree and it requires less herbicide. If mechanical cutting is required, trees need to be cut when they're small so less wood debris is left on the ground, thereby facilitating the work of Hydro-Québec crews who periodically use rights-of-way to inspect equipment or do repairs. Why does Hydro-Québec use herbicides instead of simply cutting the trees down with chainsaws or brushcutters? With many deciduous (or hardwood) species, when you cut down the tree, shoots grow out of the stump. The point of using herbicides on deciduous species (birch, aspen, maple, ash, oak, etc.) is to make sure the trees don't grow back through clump shoots and root suckering. Herbicides are not generally used to control evergreens (fir, pine, spruce, etc.). Essentially, they are used to reduce hardwood density. Adequate and selective use of herbicides shifts the plant community more towards shrubs and grasses. Does Hydro-Québec use a lot of pesticides? No. Its operations account for only about 0.4% of the total amount sold annually in Québec. Does Hydro-Québec use herbicides only in the rights-of-way? Hydro-Québec uses herbicides:
Pesticides or herbicides? What's the difference? The word "pesticide" is the generic name for any product used to destroy or repel an undesirable species or inhibit its growth. Here are some examples:
What herbicides does Hydro-Québec use? All the herbicides used by Hydro-Québec are approved by the federal government (Health Canada). The main products that could be used are:
Do these products remain in the environment for a long time? Herbicides are highly diluted before being applied. In general, they break down quickly when exposed to light and to micro-organisms in the soil. Degradation is usually complete within a few weeks or months following their application. |
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